Despite a small uptick in global air cargo tonnages week on week, figures for the last two weeks combined point towards the downward trend in tonnages continuing in June, with average rates also continuing the year-long pattern of slow year-on-year (YoY) decline, along with progressive increases in capacity, according to WorldACD Market Data.

Its latest weekly figures show that in week 23 (June 5-11), a slight increase of +1% in tonnages and almost stable average global air cargo prices were seen, week on week (WoW), after tonnages dropped by -5% at the end of May and the beginning of June — based on the more than 400,000 weekly transactions covered by WorldACD's data.

Comparing weeks 22 and 23 with the preceding two weeks (2Wo2W), WorldACD said overall tonnages decreased by -3% versus their combined total in weeks 20 and 21, with capacity up +2% and average worldwide rates slightly falling (-1%).

At a regional level, all origin regions showed a downward trend in tonnages on a 2Wo2W basis, except ex-Middle East & South Asia (+5%) and ex-Asia Pacific (flat).

It added that region to region, notable decreases can be observed between Europe and Central & South America (northbound -11%, southbound -7%), between North America and Europe (eastbound -9%, westbound -4%), between North America and Central & South America (both directions -5%), and between Europe and Africa (northbound -11%, southbound -7%). Ex-Europe to Asia Pacific is also on a downward trend (-5%), while Middle East & South Asia to Europe (+10%) and outbound Asia Pacific to Middle East & South Asia (+6%) continue to record growth, similar to last week’s report.

On the pricing side, the air cargo market data provider said although average yields ex-Asia Pacific and ex-Africa remained more or less stable, on a 2Wo2W basis, pricing was down from all the other main origin regions, with rates ex-Europe to Asia Pacific showing the most notable decrease (-6%), followed by ex-Europe to Africa (-5%) and to Central & South America (-5%).

Volumes, rates are down from year-ago levels

Comparing the overall global market with this time last year, chargeable weight in weeks 22 and 23 was down -5% compared with the equivalent period last year.

It said that the most-notable changes include a double-digit percent decrease in year-on-year (YoY) tonnages ex-North America (-17%) and ex-Europe (-7%), while traffic ex-Middle East & South Asia was up +8%, YoY.

WorldACD said overall capacity has increased by +12% compared with the previous year, with double-digit percentage increases from all regions except Africa (+8%) and Central & South America (-12%). The most notable increase was ex-Asia Pacific (+30%).

"Worldwide average rates are currently -38% below their levels this time last year, at an average of US$2.41 per kilo in week 23, although they remain significantly above pre-Covid levels (+36% compared to June 2019)," the air cargo market data provider added.